CRCA Announces Athlete of the Year Awards

The CRCA is excited to announce the 2024 Athlete of the Year Awards. These student
athletes have demonstrated incredible integrity, grit and leadership in their commitment to their sport and their teams.

Division I
Anna Jensen, University of Texas
Hometown: Midland, Michigan
Major: Sport Management
Anna Jensen is the Division I CRCA Athlete of the Year. She is a three-time CRCA First
Team All-American, three-time national champion, and the 2024 Big 12 Rower of the
Year. Jensen is a four-year member of the Texas 1V8+, and led the boat to an
undefeated 2024 season.
Head Coach Dave O’Neill on Anna:
“For the past four years it’s been a pleasure to watch Anna Jensen row, and nearly
everyone who’s ridden in the launch has heard me say, ‘Jensen is really good.’ Anna
won a lot of races and set numerous records on our team, but what she and her
teammates accomplished together this year was most impressive. Along with her
classmates, Anna had a renewed sense of doing what’s best for the team and making
her teammates better every day, and in the process her teammates brought out the
absolute best in Anna. I’m really impressed and forever grateful to have worked with
her.”

Division II
Mia Knipe, Western Washington University
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Major: Polymer Materials Engineering
Mia Knipe is the Division II CRCA Athlete of the Year. She just completed her
sophomore year at Western Washington. Knipe is a 2024 CRCA Scholar Athlete, and
was named the 2024 GNAC Rower of the Year. Knipe helped lead the Vikings to the
2024 GNAC team title and NCAA National Championship title.
Coach Colleen Moeller on Mia:
“Mia’s ability to seamlessly transition into the stroke seat mid-season and ultimately
secure a National Championship is a testament to her dedication and unwavering determination. With a strong crew in the 8+ and supportive team behind her, she led by
example at practice and in races, showcasing an impressive blend of grace and grit.”

Division III
Shayna McCarthy, Wesleyan University
Hometown: Brewster, Massachusetts
Major: Psychology
Shayna McCarthy is the Division III CRCA Athlete of the Year. She is a 2024 First-Team
All-American and All-NESCAC team member, and a 2024 CRCA Scholar Athlete.
McCarthy finished her senior year placing second at the NCAA National Championships
for the second straight year.
Head Coach Pat Tynan on Shayna:
“Shayna is ‘that kid’ that everyone wants in their boat on race day. I call her the “eye of
the hurricane” because she is so calm and focused in just about any high-pressure
situation. What a gift! Shayna has been such a great teammate who connects with
others, cares and makes those around her better.”

Lightweight
Sarah Fry, Princeton University
Hometown: Redondo Beach, California
Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Sarah Fry is the CRCA Lightweight Athlete of the Year. She is a two-time Lightweight
All-American, and remained undefeated in the V8+ at Princeton. Fry is a three-time gold
medalist at the IRA National Championship in the Lightweight V8+.
Head Coach Paul Rassam on Sarah:
“I could run out of superlatives describing Sarah Fry. It has been a real honor to coach
her. A brilliant student, a world class athlete, and a world class citizen. Through
example she challenges everyone around her to be better athletes and more
importantly better people. She has represented our team and our lightweight league
with incredible distinction. She never lost a spring race or championship race during her
career, yet she remains an incredibly humble, generous. and thoughtful human being.”

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